Oil saver



March 5, 1929. F. M. STEPHENS ET AL 1,704,152

OIL SAVER Filed Oct. 18, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 33 INVENTORj & Frank. M. Sf-ap/zena Hrfhur' F Uanahar'.

A TTORNEYS March 5, 1929.

F. M STEPHENS ET AL OIL. SAVER Filed Oct. 18, 1927- 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I N V EN TORS Fr'a n k, M s p Ar'fhur' I? Dana hen BY QiwZZJZMd wad;

A TTORNEKS i Patented Mar. 5, 1929.

FRANK-M. s'rnrnnns Annamaria r. nnnannn, or Lone BEACH, cnnn onm.

oinsavna.

Application filed October 18, 1927; Serial No. 226,865.

This invention relates to oil savers adapt ed for use with swabs or the like. The objects of this invention are first, to provide a .head having an opening for insertion and withdrawal of a swab; second, to provide an automatic closure member for said opening actuated upon withdrawalof the swab; third, to provide means to main said closure member in inoperative position; fourth, to provide a stripper for insertion in the opening in the head andmean's to lock the same. in place; fifth to provide an automatic release for said stripper; and sixth to provide details of structure whereby a simple, compact, p

to device economical to manufacture, positive in operation and subject to rough usage without injury may be obtained. I

Other objects and advantages will be made fully apparent from the following specification considered in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 isan axial section through on 011 saver embodying the invention with the stripper in position, parts belng broken out to makethe view more compact; Fig. 2 is an elevation of the stripper .mou nted upon a Christmas tree; and Fig. 3 is anaxial section showing the stripper removed and the ball check closing the opening.

Referrin more particularly to the drawing especia ly Fig. 2, a fragment of a Christmas tree such as is mounted at the top of a well is indicated generally by 5. A nipple 6 extends from one arm of the cross and mounted thereon is thebody of the oil saver."

. This body is indicated by 7 and is of slightly larger diameter than the bore of the tubing to ermit passage of a swab beyond a ledge [S aiijacent the bottom of the body. Disposed above the ledge is an annular notch 9E The \bore is enlarged adjacent the upper end .of the body to provide a, ball cage 10 and a seat 11 therefor. The upper edge of the body is bevelled as indicated by 12, and a recess is formed therein for a packing, insert.

tubular pocket member 14 providing a chamber or a pocket, for a ball valve. The bore of member 14 communicates with the bore of the body. A stutfing box indicated generally by 15 arranged for the passage therethrough of a stem 16. Handle 17- for manipulating the end of the pocket 14L is a he i place.

stem is secured to the end thereof. The stem 2 16 has a saddle 18 secured thereto by means of a ball and socket joint.- A compression spring 19 engages the saddle and the stuffing box tending to push the saddle outwardly. Resting in the saddle is a ball check 20 ofsuch diameter that it may engage the seat 11 and. close the bore of the body. Spring 19 tends'to force the ball toward its seat, and, if there isno obstruction in the bore this operation will be effected as shown in Fig. 3. However, it is desirable to retract the stem and maintain it in retracted tends through the stem in such position that when the saddle and ball are retracted, the opening is disposed outside of the stufiing box and a pin may be placed in the opening so as to hol the stem retracted;

Referring particularly to Figs. 1 and 2, the stripper comprises a cylindrical body 22 having a stufling box 23 for the passage therethrough of a cable or line 24. The body is adapted to be inserted in the bore of the head and provides a snug fit. At the top of the bod 1s a petticoat 25 having a bevelled under ace adapted to seat on the bevelled face 12 of the body. A packing insert 26 osition. To this end, an opening 21 exwill serve to. provide a leak tight fit. De.-

pending from the-body are legs 27 Secured to the'inner sides of the legs are'spring leaves 28. These provide spring fingers having knuckles 2S) adaptedto engage the notch 9.

The ends of the fingers are inclined inwardly as indicated by 30. A ring 31 is disposed within the bore of the head resting upon the ledge 8. This ring has an opening at the center through which passes the cable24 and r is provided with a bevelled inner edge 32 forreceiving. the ends 30 of the fingers. If the ring is pressed upwardly against the fingers, it will collapse the latter and withdraw the knuckles from the notch.

At the beginning of operations, the oil saver.parts are in the position shown in Fig.

stem 16 is retracted, allowing stripper, the

The stem is held the ballto enter the pocket.

in retracted position by inserting a pin in the 21. The oil stripper is then inserted,

Branching downwardly and outwardly is a ,3, the ball closing the bore. To insert the to seat said ball.

ed, the cable passing through the stripper; Ring 31 rests upon le ge 8. Upon pulling the swab upwardly to w'thdraw the-same, the ring is raised into the dotted line position .shown in Fig. 1, collapsing the. fingers and unlocking the stripper whereupon the latter may be withdrawn.

it is found advisable to provide sinker bars to maintain the ball checkin position while-the swab isbeing withdrawn. These sinkerbars are of ovoid shape and of substantially the same diameter as the bore. being preferably corrugated. to permit free passage u and down. iDne is marked 33 in' Fig. l geveral of these are placed upon the cable above the swab. When the swab is about to be withdrawn the stem is released, the ball tending to enter the bore. The sinker bars prevent this until the swab has reached the end of the pocket.

What'we claim is: j

1. An oil saver comprising a head having a bore for the passage of a swab and an internal seat; a divergent branch, a ball for en'- gagement with said seat whereby to close said bore and for passage into said pocket, a slidable stem, a saddle loosely supporting said ball on the end of said stem, a compression saddle and ball into projected position so as 2. An oil saver comprising a head having a bore for the passage of a swab and an internal seat, a divergent branch providing a pocket, a ball for engagement with said seat, to close said bore .andi'for passage into said pocket, a slidable stem, a saddle loosely supporting said ball on the end of said stem, a compres-f sion spring embracing said stem and engaging said saddle so as to urge said ball against said seat, and meansto lock said stein-in retracted position with said ball within said pocket. v

3. An oil saver comprising a head having a bore for the passage of'a swab, said bore beenlarged adjacent the upper end to proin vide a ball cage, a divergent branch forming a pocket communicating with the enlarged portion of said bore, a ball check to close said bore at the upper end of-said enlarged pas sage and for entrance into said pocket a slid- V able stemdisposedin said divergent branch, a saddle for said ball, on the end of said stem,

'a compression spring embracing said stem and abutting said saddle so as to urge said saddle and ball against said seat, and means to lock said stem in retracted position.

' 4. An oil saver comprising a head-having a bore for the passage of a swab and an internal valve seat adjacent the upper end, a lat eral pocket communicating with said bore, a check for engagement with said seat to close said bore and for entrance into said pocket, means operable at will to urge said check againstssaid seat or to retract said check into said pocket, a strippei' havin a stuffing box for'passage of a line detachaily mounted onsaid head so as to be removable upon engagement of the swab therewith for withdrawal.

5. An oil saver comprisin a head having l bore for the passage of a swa and an internal valve seat adjacent the upper end, a divergent branch providing a pocketcommunicating with said bore, a check for engagement -with said seat to close said bore and for the passage into said pocket, a slidable stem in said pocket for engagement with said check.

a spring urging said stem into projected 6. An oil saver comprising a head having a 4 i bore for the passage of a swab and an internalvalve seat adjacent the upper end 2. lateral pocket communicating with said check for engagement with said seat to close said bore and for entrance intosaid pocket,

means operable at will. to urge said check l L against said seat or to retract said checkmto said pockety'a stripper having a body slidable into and out of said bore and "a' stufling spring embracing said stem-and urging said crating catch and notch on said body and in said bore to act on said stripper therein and bore, a-

means operable by said swab to actuate said catch and release said stripper.

7. Anoil saver comprising a head having a I bore forthe pa'ssageof a swab, and an internal valve seat adjacent-its upper end, a di-v vergent branch providing a pocket communicating withsaid bore, a checkforengagement with said seat to close said bore and for passage into-said pocket a slidable stem in said pocket having a saddle .for engagement with said check, a spring urging said stem into projected position so as to seat said check, a stripper having a body slidable into and out of said bore and a stufiing box for passage of a line, there being a co-operating' catch and notch onsaid body andin said bore to anchor said stripper therein, and means operable by said swab to'actuate said catch and release sa d stripper.

8; An'oil saver comprising a head having a bore for the passe e of a swab and an in ternal valve seat ad acent the upper end, a lateral pocket communicating with said bore, a check for engagement with said seat to close said bore and for entrance into said pocket,

means operable at will to urge said .check against said seat or to detract said check into.

said pocket, a stripper having a bodyslidable into and out of said bore and a stufiing box for, passage of a line, there being a notch inthe wall of said bore, spring catch fingers depending from said body and having projec tions for entrance into said notch, and a ring having an opening for receiving the ends of said fingers to collap e the latter and withdraw the projection 0 said notches so as to release sai stripper.

9; An oil saver comprising ahead having a bore for the passage of a swab, a divergent branch providing a pocket communicating with said bore, a check for engagement with said seat to close said bore and for passage into said pocket, a slidable stem in said pocket having a saddle forvengagementwith said check, a spring urging said stem into r0- jected position so as to seat said chec a stripper having a body slidable into and out of said bore and having a stufling box for passage of a line, a notch in the wall of said bore, spring catch fingers depending from said body and having projections for entrance'into said notch and a ring having an opening for receiving the ends of said fingers to collapse the latter and withdraw said ,rojection from said notch so as to'release said stripper.

10. An oil saver comprising a head having a bore for the passage therethrough of a swab, said bore being enlarged adjacent its upper end to provide a ball cage, a lateral pocket communicating with the enlarged portion of said bore, aball for engagement with said seat to close said bore and for entrance into said pocket, means operable at will to urge said ball against said seat or to retract said ballinto said pocket, a stripper having a body slidable into and out of said bore and a stufiing box for the passa e of a line, there being a notch in the wall 0 said bore, spring fingers depending from said body and having per end for a ball cage, a divergent branch, a

ball for engagement with said seat to close said bore and for passage into said pocket, a slidable stem in said pocket having a saddle for engagement with said ball, a spring urging sald' stem into projected position so as to seat said ball, a stripper having a body slidable into and out of said bore and a stufiing box for passage of a line, a notch in the wall of said bore, spring catch fingers depending from said body and having projections for entrance into said notch, a ring having an opening for receiving the ends of said fingers to collapse the latter and withdraw the projections from said notch so as to release said stripper.

In witness that we claim the foregoing we have hereunto subscribed our names this 30th day of September, 1927. v

V FRANK M. STEPHENS. ARTHUR P. DANAHER. 

